The Public Prosecution Service demands 5 years against a 58-year-old man from Rotterdam for involvement in an armed robbery on a cash transport in Schiedam. This occurred on December 19, 2023, in a former bank building at Land van Belofte. Two Brink’s employees were threatened with a firearm, and over a ton was taken. “The suspect only thought of his own gain and not the consequences for the victims,” said the public prosecutor.
On December 19, 2023, two cash transporters drove to a former bank building in Schiedam to refill ATMs. Upon arrival, one of the employees went to the vault, which is the room where the ATMs are replenished. You can only enter that room through a specially secured sluice. When the first employee entered the vault, he was threatened with a firearm and forced to hand over the money case. However, the case could only be opened with a key that was at that moment in the possession of the second employee. When he also entered the vault, he was similarly threatened by the suspect with a firearm and was intimidatingly asked to open the cases. Meanwhile, it became clear that the robber was not alone but with another person. One robber then grabbed the seal bags of money, and together they fled with 115,000 euros.
Investigation
Camera footage shows that suspects were in the former bank building on December 8, 2023. Evidence was found of preparations for the robbery. The suspects made a passage in the wall of the vault, placed a multiplex sheet against it, and tried to hide the break-in traces. Furthermore, research shows that DNA traces of the suspect were found on various materials and a cigarette butt in the bank building. Chat conversations on his phone also show that he had financial problems before the robbery and spent a lot of money after the robbery. Additionally, his appearance matches the description provided by both victims.
Sentence Requirement
Public Prosecutor: “The suspect and his accomplice committed an extremely brazen robbery. A robbery during which they attacked unsuspecting Brinks employees while they were working, wearing balaclavas. A robbery during which the victims were held at gunpoint at close range, with the firearm aimed at their chest and head. The enormous threat posed by a firearm and the uncertainty about the outcome have left deep scars on the victims.” In determining the sentence requirement, consideration was given to the threatening with a firearm, the fact that it concerns a cash transport, the disguise of the suspect, and the complicity in the crime. The suspect played a significant role, as according to the victims he had the firearm and directed everything. These factors are the reason for the Public Prosecution Service to demand a higher sentence. Another suspect was arrested at the end of January but has since been released due to lack of evidence.
The judge will make a ruling in 2 weeks.